Agenda item

To receive a report on the proposed outline response that will be finalised and approved by the Cabinet Member before submitting to Highways England by the closing date of 23 September.

1.            The Director of Environment, Planning and Enforcement, Mrs Stewart and Miss Pettitt, introduced a report that set out the proposed outline of Kent County Council’s response to the Operation Stack Lorry Area consultation before it was finalised by the Cabinet Members for submission to Highways England by the closing date of 23 September.

2.            Mr Balfour said Operation Stack Lorry Area was to be debated at Westminster later in the day when he hoped the need for discussions with the Department of Transport would be recognised.

3.            Members received comments that were tabled from the Local Member for Elham Valley, Miss Carey, and a resident (Mr Horner) expressing their views on the consultation.

4.            Mr Balfour, Mrs Stewart and Miss Pettitt responded to comments and questions by Members as follows:

(a)  A Member asked for the following to be considered, “in order for the lorry park to work effectively TAP lorry parking regulation needed to be in place.  This could be in advance of the lorry park.  Use this opportunity to reinforce and put in as soon as possible.    The regulations on lorry parking needed to be put in as soon as possible”.  Mr Balfour agreed and advised that Highways England had been positive in certain areas unblocking some of its positions.  In terms of fly parking there was a correlation between stopping lorries parking on hard shoulders and having somewhere to redirect them to.  He said the market must not be distorted by the provision of such a facility.

(b)  Referring to page 166 of the report, a comment was made that existing lorry parks should be encouraged to expand and it was agreed that Kent’s local authorities should be given powers to create solutions for overnight lorry parking.  A further comment was made that lorry drivers would not leave their natural route to use the lorry parking.  Mr Balfour stated that there was a requirement to persuade lorry drivers to use the lorry parking.  KCC was stressing that the need for small lorry parks was critical. A suggestion was made that “KCC and Medway Council” in the second bullet point on page 166 be removed and replaced with “ the local authorities” as the district and borough councils would have input too.

(c)  Concerns were raised that Highways England did not have answers regarding air quality and air pollution.  A request was made for a full air quality study to take place to be used as a bench mark.  Mr Balfour agreed that air pollution needed to be monitored and well as landscaping etc.

(d)  Mr Balfour considered that this was the time to reflect on whether there would be a problem filtering on the Lower Thames Crossing.  A survey was to take place on how many fly parking area there were already in Kent.

(e)  Members said that Miss Carey had been vocal in representing the residents in the Elham Valley regarding this issue.

5.            RESOLVED that:

(a)  the responses to questions by Members be noted; and

(b)  the proposed outline response that would be finalised and approved by the Cabinet Member before being submitted to Highways England by the closing date of 23 September be noted, subject to Members’ suggestions being considered by the drafting officers.